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21 Mar 2024

Italian Recorded Music Revenues Grew 18.8% in 2023

In 2023, the Italian market of recorded music grew by 18.8% YoY, reaching a total of 440 million euros of revenues, according to FIMI (Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana), the organization that represents the Italian recorded music industry. It is the best result ever in the country in the streaming era. Italy is the third biggest market of the European Union, after France and Germany.

It is also one of the most significant growths on a global level, where IFPI reports an increase of 10.2% YoY, reaching 28.6 billion dollars and marking the ninth consecutive year of growth, as per their Global Music Report published today (Mar. 21).

In Italy, like elsewhere in the world, the sector was driven by streaming: it now covers a market share of 65% and its revenues grew by 16.2%, reaching 287 million euros. Premium subscribers reached 6.5 million users (+9% compared to the previous year). The premium segment led the streaming sector, with a growth of 18.4% and 190 million euros in revenues. Overall, the digital segment saw a growth of 15.7%. Only downloads decreased in the segment (-11.8% YoY).

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The physical segment also recorded a growth, positioning Italy as the eighth market worldwide. With revenues of 62 million euros (+14.4% YoY), it covers a market share of 14%. Vinyl sales lead the sector, growing by 24.3%, but even CDs saw an increase (+3.8%).

Performance rights grew significantly (+42.6%, reaching 73 million euros, which positions Italy as the seventh market globally) and synchronization rights saw an increase of 3.5%, reaching 13 million euros.

The flourishing Italian music scene also opened new opportunities on a global level. In 2023, revenues from outside the country grew by 20% (+130% if compared to 2020, the year before Måneskin’s success), for a total royalty income of more than 26 million euros. This was also driven by the digital sector, with revenues growing by 11% to almost 21 million euros.

21 Mar 2024

Nicki Nicole Reveals Alejandro Sanz Collab & More Takeaways From Billboard’s Spanish-Language Music Forum in Madrid

Nicki Nicole headlined the inaugural Forum on Spanish-Language Music in Madrid presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard on Tuesday (March 19). 

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During her 30-minute Q&A moderated by Billboard’s Leila Cobo, the Argentine artist opened up about her creative process when writing music, the importance of prioritizing her mental health, her very public break up with música Mexicana star Peso Pluma, and even revealed that new music with Alejandro Sanz is on the horizon. 

Right after, Billboard Español’s latest cover star performed a nearly 20-minute showcase, where she delivered acoustic version of her hits such as as “Dispara ***” and “8 AM.” 

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Additionally, the one-day, invite-only event — which sought to highlight the growing consumption of music in Spanish across continents — featured four panel conversations that included managers, executives and artists such as Raphael, Luis Cobos, La Mala Rodríguez, Paula Cendejas, Yotuel and Maikel Delacalle. 

Below are the best takeaways from Nicki’s intimate conversation.

Nicki Nicole

Nicki Nicole at the first Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid, presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard.

Jaime Massieu

On Collaborating With Alejandro Sanz

“I’m a big fan. I was recently with him in the studio and it was crazy for me. I don’t know if I could say it but yes, we made music together. His daughter’s name is Alma like my album and it was like, things are happening that are not coincidences. I also like that about music, that you can get to know your favorite artists, understand their world. Many of his songs that I thought were [created] one way, he explained to me that were made another way, and that’s also the crazy thing about music. I always play Alejandro Sanz music when I’m in my days. I really like ‘Amiga Mia.’ That’s my favorite song.”

On Peso Pluma Breakup

“I did it because I felt it. I felt that I was pretty exposed and from my part, I had to say what I felt and was going through. I like the fact that I received many messages from women, a lot of support, a lot of love. It’s a bit difficult when your personal life gets mixed up with exposure because a lot of people have opinions, and it’s hard. I was in between saying something or not, but I felt that I had to say something because it goes hand-in-hand with who I am.” 

Nicki Nicole

Nicki Nicole at the first Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid, presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard.

Jaime Massieu

On Turning Her Feelings Into Music

“I sing what I live and I live what I feel, and if it weren’t that way, I wouldn’t be myself 100 percent. I always like writing in a notebook and it helps me a lot. Beyond whether it [the song] comes out later or not, whether it remains captured somewhere, it’s already my catharsis of what happens to me. It also makes me be the artist that I am and have the fans that I have, who always know that I am going to be sincere with what I feel. I feel that new things will come from the hand of my emotions, and I feel that I will always be faithful to say what happens to me and talk about those things that make us human.”

On Mental Health

“I had a moment in 2021 where I felt very bad personally and at that moment, with my team, we decided to slow down a little and I really liked having that respect from Fede. At that moment I stopped, but today, I think differently — my personal things are my personal things, but there’s also a responsibility, which is my job, the people who pay a ticket to see me. So at this moment, I decided not to stop. I decided to continue because it’s also what motivates me, what is good for me. […] I feel that today, personally, I have quite good self-esteem, and that helps me a lot to stay grounded. But I also very much agree that if you are not good with yourself, you don’t have to do things that you do not feel capable of.” 

21 Mar 2024

Britney Spears’ 20 Biggest Hot 100 Hits, From ‘…Baby One More Time’ to ‘Hold Me Closer’

Very few stars have risen as fast or burned as bright as Britney Spears in the late ’90s, becoming an icon almost as soon as she dropped her debut single “…Baby One More Time.” But hey, that’s Britney, b–ch.

The Mississippi-born, Louisiana-bred artist’s first-ever track skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 just a couple months after it entered the chart in 1998, the first of several Spears hits to top the tally over the course of her career. Her debut album, also titled …Baby One More Time, went on to rule the Billboard 200 for six weeks, securing her the title of Princess of Pop before she was even a legal adult.

In the years to come, the Mickey Mouse Club alum would continue releasing smashes, such as “Oops!…I Did it Again,” “Toxic” and “Gimme More.” Even after control of her affairs was assigned to her father, Jamie Spears, in 2008, the star was able to deliver Circus and Femme Fatale, her fifth and sixth No. 1 albums, before eventually breaking from music after dropping Glory in 2016.

Now that her conservatorship has been terminated, fans are eager to see a grand return to the pop charts for Spears (something she got a taste of by hopping on Elton John’s “Hold Me Closer” in 2022). In the meantime, keep reading to see the superstar’s 20 biggest hits on the Hot 100 so far.

Britney Spears’ Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot 100 through the charts dated March 23, 2024. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.

21 Mar 2024

Beyonce’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Ads Appear on NYC Museums

This ain’t Texas, but New York City is gearing up for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter release.

A number of major NYC art museums were seen with a display projected onto the front that reads, “This ain’t a country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album,” as shared in photos posted by ARTnews. Among the museums with the projected ad include the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, New Museum and Museum of Arts and Design. Bey also posted a photo of the Guggenheim’s coordinates to her Instagram Story on Wednesday night (March 20).

However, in a statement to ARTNews, the Guggenheim “was not informed about and did not authorize this activation. However, we invite the public—including Beyoncé and her devoted fans—to visit the museum May 16–20 when we present projections by artist Jenny Holzer on the facade of our iconic building to celebrate the opening of her major exhibition.”

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Billboard has reached out to Beyoncé’s team, as well as the other NYC museums that featured the display for more information.

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Earlier this week, Bey shared the official album cover for Cowboy Carter, which is set to arrive on March 29. A clear continuation of her 2022 album Renaissance‘s aesthetic, the album cover for Cowboy Carter finds Queen Bey striking a pose while perched atop a white horse. She dons red, white and blue chaps, a simple white cowboy hat and platinum blonde hair as she raises the American flag.

“This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she wrote in her post, possibly alluding to her experience performing the country-indebted “Daddy Lessons” at the 2016 CMA Awards alongside The Chicks. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.” Billboard reached out to the Country Music Association, who had no comment on Beyoncé’s March 19 Instagram post.

In her message, Beyoncé both stressed that Cowboy Carter is “a continuation of Renaissance” and acknowledged the Billboard chart history she made with “Texas Hold ‘Em.” “I feel honored to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart,” she shared. “That would not have happened without the outpouring of support from each and every one of you. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”

21 Mar 2024

Too Much Chat, Not Enough Music: Azealia Banks Slammed On X For Beyoncé & Jay-Z Jabs

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Azealia Banks was once considered one of the best women rappers of her generation but has achieved more notoriety lately for her fiery rants against the culture. Once more, the Harlem artist aimed barbs at Beyoncé and Jay-Z, sparking outrage and criticism from the Beyhive and beyond.

Beyoncé put the world on notice after sharing details behind her upcoming studio album, Act II: Cowboy Carter, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2022’s Act I: Renaissance. The Houston superstar explained in detail the impetus behind the album and expressed gratitude for having her song “Texas Hold ‘Em” going No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first Black woman to do so via a country music song.

Azealia Banks took to social media and had plenty to say about the rollout of the upcoming album, taking shots at Beyoncé’s husband in the process.

“Wow we didn’t even try to put even a little effort into a more artistic title?” Banks wrote via her Instagram Stories feed on March 19. “Sis I live for whiteyonce Donatella Bianca Bardot DOWN, But I’m kind of ashamed at how u switch from baobab trees and black parade to this literal pick me stuff.”

Banks added, “Like u do lame stuff like bring out some black listed white women (Dixie chicks) at the country music awards and they would never ever do the same for you. Ur always sharing ur platform with white women who are so jealous of you but have such a long history of sabotaging other black womens careers.”

Caught in the fray was Hov with Banks saying, “Ugh I’m so saddened by Jay-Z and his overstrategizing everything beyonce to the point where it’s clearly his influence and not the real Bianca Bardot. Someone tell Jayz his strategies are corny and beyonce has better ideas.”

Okay, then.

On X, formerly Twitter, reactions from all sides to the comments from Azealia Banks poured in. Some suggested that Banks focus on putting out new music while others agreed with some of her points, albeit some did so with reluctance.

We’ve got those reactions listed below.

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Photo: Lexie Moreland / Getty

21 Mar 2024

BMG Chief Content Officer Dominique Casimir Exits

Dominique Casimir, chief content officer for BMG, announced she is exiting the company on Thursday (Mar. 21).

“It has been an exceptional journey to have been part of shaping BMG’s story from almost day one,” Casimir said in a statement. “We built something unique — a global company with a genuinely artist-focused spirit — and celebrated many milestones together. I am truly grateful for the possibilities I have been given and the amazing people I work with, but I have decided that it is time for something new in my life and career.”

“I would personally like to thank Dominique for her outstanding contribution and unparalleled commitment to BMG over many years,” added BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld. “We respect her decision to move on, and I would like to wish her all the very best for her personal and professional future, personally, on behalf of the BMG Board — and the wider BMG team.”

Casimir’s departure comes during a period of transition for BMG. 

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In April 2023, the company claimed to be the first to combine its new release and catalog recordings businesses. The following month, BMG announced that it would shorten its long-term succession plan for longtime CEO Hartwig Masuch, meaning that Coesfeld stepped into the role on July 1 instead of New Year’s Day 2024.

BMG subsequently exited its distribution agreement with Warner Music Group’s ADA and took “direct control of our relationships with streaming services,” as Coesfeld said in a statement at the time. In October, BMG laid off around 40 employees. (Layoffs have swept through the music industry in the last 15 months.)

And in November, the company announced a restructure that Coesfeld described as “local where necessary, global where possible.” “Fifteen years after the emergence of streaming, music is going through another tectonic change,” Coesfeld said in a statement at the time. “It is vital we now reengineer our business to make the most of that opportunity.”

Casimir started working at BMG in 2008. Her portfolio eventually grew to encompass GSA (2016), Continental Europe (2019), Asia Pacific and Latin America (2020), and the company’s global synch operation (2021). She was promoted to chief content officer in May 2022.

21 Mar 2024

Tyler, the Creator Debuts Louis Vuitton Capsule Collection: ‘I Still Can’t Believe This’

Tyler, The Creator is fulfilling one of his childhood dreams with the debut of his own Louis Vuitton collection.

After revealing he was tapped to head his own capsule by mentor Pharrell Williams (who is the men’s creative director at LV), last month, the colorful men’s spring 2024 collection officially arrived on Thursday (March 21).

Tyler celebrated the launch of his landmark LV collaboration by releasing a two-minute trailer showcasing the work it took him to get to this point.

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The comical clip finds the Grammy-winning rapper lugging an oversized 35mm SLR camera into the studio before getting it in position to snap some shots of his designer garments on Louis Vuitton models. After hustling around the venue, he discovers there’s nobody else left to help him in the studio. “Where is everybody? F–k,” he shrieks.

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Dubbed the “Craggy Monogram,” the posh capsule includes an array of items that Tyler himself would sport, whether that be a baby blue V-neck knitted vest, pastel shoes or Bermuda shorts.

Tyler has a keen eye for accessories (a $200 pocket square for example), and he didn’t hold back with his LV debut. There’s a collectible cereal bowl, as well as a leather golf bag with a Damier towel and club head covers for those hitting the links. There’s even one piece that comes equipped with a chess set for those who are ready to sit down for a game at any time.

“P has always left a door open for me, but I still can’t believe this one,” Tyler said in a statement about the massive opportunity.

“Tyler has been my close friend and collaborator for years and we’ve always connected on music and design,” Pharrell told GQ last month. “This collaboration is unique to Louis Vuitton because it’s a natural extension of our LVERS philosophy, building on our network of incredible artists and creatives. There are so many elements specific to Tyler built into these pieces and it’s been inspiring to see him hone in on his craft and collaborate with him for this Spring collection.”

Shop the collection on the Louis Vuitton website and watch the clip below.

21 Mar 2024

‘Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told’ Is Now Streaming on Hulu: How to Watch for Free

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Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, a new documentary from Jermaine Dupri, 21 Savage and Luther Campbell, premieres on Hulu on Thursday (March 21).

The documentary shares the “untold story” surrounding the popular Atlanta parties that swelled to popularity in the ’90s. Taking viewers back to the roots, the documentary details how “Freaknik” started as a spring break picnic created by Black college students at an Atlanta HBCU in 1983.

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“It’s all educational. It’s Black history personally to me,” Dupri told the Associated Press. “For those who need that assurance, I would never allow my name to be involved with something that’s going to put a black eye on Atlanta or do anything that I feel like is going to set this culture backwards.”

Dupri, 21 Savage, Luther Campbell are executive producers on the documentary alongside Terry “TR” Ross, Melissa Cooper, Alex Avant and Tresa Sanders.

“It’s also a coming-of-age story,” supervising producer Deshawn Plair explained to CNN. “You were able to come of age, but not have that pressure to have to be in the spotlight, not have that pressure to have cameras all over you. I think it was just such a bit of Black joy.”

The documentary features Killer Mike, 21 Savage, Lil John, Dupri, Campbell, Too $hort, Erik Sermon, Jalen Rose, Shanti Das, former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and more.

Read on for details on when and how to stream the documentary for free.

How to Watch Online

Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told is available to stream free to Hulu subscribers. If you’re not subscribed, you can watch the documentary with a 30-day free trial to Hulu.

How much does Hulu cost? Plans start at $7.99 per month for the basic streaming package, but Hulu also provides a student discount package for just $1.99 per month, annual plans and bundles with Disney+ and ESPN+.

You can watch Hulu on your TV, smartphone and other streaming devices via the Hulu app or online at Hulu.com.

Want to stream live channels? Hulu + Live TV combines everything you need in one plan. Hulu+Live TV is $76.99 per month to stream with adds and $89.99 for ad-free streaming.

The plan includes 90+ live channels such as ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Bravo, TLC, OWN, FX, A&E and Lifetime, in addition to access to Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.

Hulu subscribers can stream original series, movies, sports and shows on network television including Sho-Gun, The Bear, Self-Reliance, The Bachelor, The Masked Singer, Poor Things, the forthcoming series, We Are the Lucky Ones, NBA games, March Madness, NHL and more.

Watch the trailer for Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told below.



21 Mar 2024

DOJ Slaps Apple With Antitrust Lawsuit Over iPhone Monopoly, Android Users Say It’s About Time

If the DOJ’s lawsuit is successful, it could force the Tim Cook-run company to make significant changes to its highly successful business model.

In a press conference announcing the lawsuit, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “As set out in our complaint, Apple has that power in the smartphone market. If left unchallenged. Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”

Per The Verge, the DOJ’s lawsuit accuses Apple of:

  • Disrupting “super apps” that encompass many different programs and could degrade “iOS stickiness” by making it easier for iPhone users to switch to competing devices
  • Blocking cloud-streaming apps for things like video games that would lower the need for more expensive hardware
  • Suppressing the quality of messaging between the iPhone and competing platforms like Android
  • Limiting the functionality of third-party smartwatches with its iPhones and making it harder for Apple Watch users to switch from the iPhone due to compatibility issues
  • Blocking third-party developers from creating competing digital wallets with tap-to-pay functionality for the iPhone

In a statement to CNBC, Apple did not agree with the lawsuit and said it would fight it.

A spokesperson for the tech giant told CNBC, “This lawsuit threatens who we are and the principles that set Apple products apart in fiercely competitive markets. If successful, it would hinder our ability to create the kind of technology people expect from Apple—where hardware, software, and services intersect. It would also set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people’s technology.”

Android users have been eating this all up because of the claims they have accused Apple of for years.

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

21 Mar 2024

Michael Jackson’s Son Says Estate Shouldn’t Pay Grandmother’s Legal Bills In Dispute Over $600 Million Catalog Deal

Michael Jackson’s son Blanket is asking a Los Angeles judge to stop his grandmother from using money from the iconic singer’s estate to fund her ongoing legal battles against the estate’s executors over their recent $600 million deal with Sony.

In court filings obtained by Billboard, Blanket argued Monday that the estate shouldn’t foot the bill for Katherine Jackson’s pending appeal, in which she’s challenging a ruling last year that gave co-executors John Branca and John McClain approval to proceed with an unnamed transaction.

While the disputed deal itself is not explicitly named in legal documents, it appears to be the Jackson estate’s estimated $600 million deal to sell part of the singer’s catalog to Sony, the terms of which were first reported by Billboard last month.

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Monday’s objections highlight a recent rift between Katherine and Blanket. Both of them initially opposed the estate’s proposed transaction, but after the judge ruled last year that the deal could move forward, Blanket and Jackson’s other children accepted the decision. Katherine opted instead to keep fighting, filing an appeal that remains pending.

In December, Katherine filed motions asking that the estate pay for her legal bills stemming from her objections, including the ongoing appellate case. But in his filing on Monday, Blanket said it would be “unfair” to force him and his siblings to pay for that case, since his grandmother’s efforts face “long odds.”

“It is readily apparent that a reversal on appeal would be an extreme longshot,” wrote lawyers for Blanket, who now uses the name Bigi. “Given those odds, Bigi decided not to waste his resources to participate in an appeal. Nonetheless, Katherine has decided to appeal this court’s ruling. That decision is not for the benefit of the heirs.”

It’s unclear exactly how much Katherine is seeking. In a court filing earlier this month, Branca and McClain said she had asked for more than $561,548 to cover her legal fees for both her initial objections and the current appeal. In that filing, the executors said they strongly opposed any estate payments for her “failed objection” and “meritless appeal.”

In his filing Monday, Blanket didn’t entirely oppose his grandmother’s request. He argued that the estate should, in fact, pay her legal bills for her initial opposition to the deal — arguing that she had presented “essential evidence” about the proposed transaction and that “all heirs and beneficiaries benefited from this court’s scrutiny.”

But he also argued the actual dollar total she had requested “might be high,” and questioned whether she had really needed to hire “four lawyers charging fees of $840 to $1,400 per hour.” And he argued any legal fees for the ongoing appeal should be entirely denied, since the ruling allowing the deal to proceed had been “reasoned and detailed.”

“Katherine’s petition has the practical effect of requiring Bigi and his siblings pay for her appeal,” Blanket wrote. “It would be unfair to make those beneficiaries shoulder this burden when they expressly decided an appeal would not be in their best interests.”

An attorney for Katherine Jackson did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. Reps for the Jackson estate declined to comment.